Sintering machine



- Dgc. 18, 1945. E. w. SHALLOCK SINTERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1943 4 sheets-shed 1 IN VEN TOR.-

mud/d WilzaZ/oa/a E. W. SHALLOClf SINTERING MACHINE Filed Aug. '26, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTORR v ['czward WJ/z'adOc/a De c. 18, 1945. E. w. SHALLOCK SINTERING MACHINE Filed'mi 26, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 18, 1945.

E. W. SHALLOCK SINTERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 26, 1943 INVENTOR.

Patented' Dec. 18 1945 ZSINTEKING Edtvud" W'. shallo'ck, Chicago, Y assign!!! to nimerfcanDrelleclamation-Cbmpany; Chicago;

Hit, a corporation-of NewYorlr Agnllcatiom-Augnatiz ii, 1943, Serial No. 500,074

invention relates toqsinterins; machines, and; haste-do: withmixitering: mhehmes :o'the.--eontinuous 1 slnpsintering. machinesmfi v tlae.-=tzii1e .referredwte, e train otspalletsis propelled aleng'theupper-runs etlapcpntinuous: track, by -.means ofizsprocketwheel'sv at; teed. end. of the machinegthe. pallets-at this endo'fthe merrunctthermachme ein fi mr ed the material -to f-.be.;sintered aiter whichthe-bed or layer of .materiaLin-the palletsgisrignitedllhy a suitable igniting furnace, and the; .eharged; pallets then. pass above. wind boxes by means of which air is drawn. downward through-the material which isisinteredl by combustion progressing dcwnwardetherethmugh. 'I'hetrain of palletsxisssueh as teleaver agap between: twoadiaeent; :pallets at :the return vbend.

atrthezdeliveryordischarge end of thermaehihel each pallet; as; it enters the: returnqbend breaking efi. the sin-tel: and, whemit strikesvthepreceding. pallet, discharging the ihreken gofli sinter. The pellets themcontinim-their 'travel..-around the-metumatthe dischargerend and traveldowu wei dly along the inclined lower rim iaf the track to -.-.the teed; end, at which, they r are engaged. bythe sproeket wheels and returnedlto-the upper run er the tracla. The. pallets commonly used-in 'machines this typeare-prcvided with dependfinger-1d. .walls. and with transversely extendingnreenforcing. ribs sprorvidingmeans fer supporting,

. the gratesiand iorbracing 111133113119; these Walls and. ribs extending transversely of. the

} andfdefining, in .efiect, troughs, or pockets which.

are-.epemattheir top, when thepallets are ln their invertedposition which they occupy-atthe lower end :ofv the return. bend atthe discharge .end. of. the machine, and. during, their travel along. the lower run of the track. Whenene-efithepallets passes; from. :the. upper. oi .the track eontolthe return. :bend at. the discharge end, it: :tiltsand breaks off the sinter, .as; aheves'tatei-that pallet being then segarated a shnrt. distance the next succeeding, pallet, jThe breaking. oi the sinter results in the production. :of: fine particles of sintered material;commonly-.termed finesz A; chute-,, :cemmonly termed a. spillage apron, is usually providedbeneath theuppenporticntofthereturnhendrzat the discharge: endoftthe machine for catching; the .finesand conducting them to afines or other suitable. point; oi discharge. Thiechuteis lot necessity spaced an. appreciable distance -immpellets and .-.a portion of the fines: is discharged-.at-thesides or theehute and thesefines-dmp downward into :pockets 7 or dennedbrtheremie ne l lls nd-ribs 5 '0-the:-inem.;pa11etssat' or adjacent the. lower end; rat the return bend: at the discharge end of themaehfne. during. and immediately after discharge ofi the sinter from eachpallet, sinter fines) escape between. that pallet and. the next preceding pallet, and-theseflnes drop downward, innirmtof spillage chute .orlapron, into the pockets. eiethe. invertedpallets. at the lower pertiencfitheretum bend. The finesare. retained in I the'pockets oi the inverted :pallets asthey travel along the lnwer rlmof the track,. and as the-pallets ere .returned to substantially upright posttion at the feed end-ct the. machine. by the sprocket wheels the fines contained :w-ithin. the troughs.- or pockets of. the-pallets are discharged therefrom :dewnward between the sprocketwheels, and the lines thus. discharged. fall in. con-.. siderableporticnhintotthe troughs of the inverted pallets atrand adjacent. lowerrportionsvoi thespmcketwheels. In.,.a.ddition,; fine. partic1es. .of the sinten :adhere to .the .pallets,.pa.rtieularly lthe gratesthereof, from.whichthey. are dislndged. and discharged dewnwarcl. into. the pocketsof the invented. pallets, dufingtravel. of the. palletsamundthereturn hend at. the feed end of the ,Thatprbducesa 'cumulative-efiect. such that the feed end; portion. of the. machine is suhiectedgtoa substantially continuous cloud oi .-fines,..these;fines, frequently being! highly abrasive character... The smaller particles .01 the. fines. enterlthehearingsoithe sprocket wheel shaft'and of themotor. and associated mechanisms, filer" (menial-y resulting in rapid wear. and serious injury thereto. objectionhas beengem erall'y recognizedinmachines ofthe'type referred to it'haslheretcfore been. accepted as a necessary eviland so; far as I.'.a.m- .aware,,.no one has been ahlettajavoi'dthat 4 ;My.-imzenti0n. isvdirected ta means for avoiding. theahmnereferred Lto ohiectionto machines of the txpereterred tc,.with.respect.tcinilury to the operatithe. feed. end at the machine bgithe. finesdischarged Irom the pallets during. their .travellahontthereturn. bend at. that'end of themachine. .To.,-that end, I..provide..means ior colleetingthefines,.discharged'fromthe, pallets as they ,passardundlthe ieed end .retum bend. of the maehine,,-in.a mannereffectively to. prevent at. that; bend. them-more. or less. continuous dcwnward dischargeonshoweroifines andresultingdamage, suchasoccursinssintering machines elf-ordinary type,,.-abeve:refierred.ito. More. specifically,, 1 pro.-

- title 2a. .ehute between the. sprocket.

wheels attthe fveecliend oi .themachineand; dis- .torreceiye {the finesdi'scharged fr m h charged into a suitable conveyor by means of which they are discharged and delivered to a suitable point remote from the machine, such as the This chute is so disposed downward thrgugh the bed of material on the pallets, sintering the material by downward combustion. When the material in the pallets has been sintered, the pallets pass about the return bend l3, each "pallet as it enters the upper portion of this return bend being tilted relative to the next succeeding pallet, this tilting action-serying to break 011 apiece or block of the sinterl and,- as, the pallet travels downward about return bend l3, it strikes the next preceding pallet and the broken off block of sinter s is discharged from the pallet. Referring to Figure 1, a pallet a is shown in dotted lines entering the upper fines bin, where they are collectedv for. use in the sintering operation. Further ob ects I and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a sintering machine embodying my invention, this machine being broken away and certain parts of the mechanisms at the feed end being omitted for clearness of illustration, certain other parts at the feed end being shown in'section;

Figure 2 is a side view ofthe feed end of the machine on an enlarged scale; f i

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure'2;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the fines chute and the fines receiving trough and associated parts, looking toward the feed end of the machine, parts being shown infsectionand certain other parts being broken away; 1

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the fines chute and the fines receiving trough and associated parts as viewed from the side of the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2. certain parts of the machine being shown in section andcertain parts being omitted for clearness of illustration; and

Figure 6 is a plan view 'of the fines receiving trough and the fines chute "and associated parts, certain parts being broken away.

I have shown my invention as embodied in a sintering machine of known construction and operation, a brief description of which will suffice. It comprises a suitable frame l0 supporting an endless track having upper and lower runs II and I2, respectively connected at the discharge end of the machine by a return bend l3 and. at the feed end of the machine; by a return bend l4. Pallets l5, of known construction, travel along the track in 'endwise abutting contact'forming a train, except at the return bend. The number of pallets is such that a gap or space I6 is provided between the end pallets of the train at the upper portion of the return bend l 3, at the discharge end of the machine, the pallets extending about this bend being in endwise contact. The lower run l2 of the .track is inclined downward toward the feed end of the machlne,' to which the pallets travelby gravity. At thefeed end of the machine the pallets are moyed; around the return bend l 4, by means of a pair of sprocket wheels I! secured on a drive shaft I 8, and returned to the upper run ll of the track, along which they are propelled by thesprocket wheels. The pallets are loaded or charged with the material or the mixture of materials to be sintered by means of a hopper or spout l9, after which the charged pallets pass beneath an ignition furnace 20, by means of which the layer or 'bediof' material in the pallets is ignited at its upper surface. The pallets thentravel over wind boxes continuous type of 2|, connected to suitable suction means, in a-- known manner, by means of which air isdrawn off a block of the sinter and, as previously noted,

in breaking off this block of sinter, fine particles of sinter oriines are produced. A large portion of-these-fines drop into a spillage apron or chute a, disposed beneath the upper portion of return bend I3; from which they are conducted by a spout'b toa fines bin or other suitable point of discharge. A considerable portion of the fines 1, however, 'are discharged beyond the sides of chute a, and these fines drop downward to the lower end portion of the return bend l3. The pallet then continues to travel around return bend l3 until it reaches its full line position at I5b, where it strikes the next'preceding pallet, with the result that thepiece or block of sinter s is discharged from'the pallet. When the sinter is discharged from the pallet, as it reaches its position at l5b, sinter fines 'f aredischarged between that pallet and the next preceding pallet and drop to the lower'portion of bend l3.

The main drive shaft 18 of the machine is mounted for rotation in suitable bearing blocks mounted in a known manner on frame In, at the sides thereof, as will'be clear from Figure 2. A countershaft 25 is rotatably mounted transversely of'frame'lli, in bearing blocks suitably mounted thereon, in advance of and parallel with the main drive shaft. 'A spur pinion26 is keyed on one end of countershaft 25 and mesheswith a spur gear 2! keyed on the corresponding end of shaft 18. A spur gear 28 is keyed on the other end of co'unter'shaft 25 and meshes with a spur pinion 29 keyed on shaft 30 of a speed reducing unit 3|, of known type suitably mounted adjacent and anchored to frame) of the machine. Unit 3| is provided with a drive shaft 32 which may be driven from any suitable source of power, conveniently an electric motor having either a direct driving connection to shaft 32 or a belt and pulley drive thereto. -It will be understood that any other suitable or preferred known means may be provided for driving the shaft 18 at proper speed and in proper direction.

, The pallets l5 may be of any suitable known construction, but preferably are constructed similarly to the pallet disclosed in my Patent No. 1,722,344, issued July 30, 1929. Each pallet comprises a rectangular frame with side walls 35 connected by end walls 36 and intermediate reenforcing ribs 31 (Figure 3), the ribs and the end walls being connected by an intermediate wall 38 having dovetail recesses or sockets which receive corresponding locking heads 39 depending from the inner ends of grate sections 40 seating on the upper faces of the end walls 36 and the ribs 31. At ,their'outr ends the grate sections 40 receive locking pins 4| disposed at the upper faces thereof, and restraining thegrate sections against end of the machine.

toreach ot'. the :side walls 35, extendin upward thererroml a suitable distance such that the pallet provides, a in effect, a pan :of considerable :depth 'ior rreceptionzof the :bed or layer of material to be :sintered. The'ribs 3.'|;and.end walls 360i the pallet may be connected :by supplemental reenforcing ribs .44. It will be. understood that the particularconstruction.ofxthe pallet, so far as the details thereof arexconcerned, is not of the essence of my invention. :IItJ should i be noted, however, that all :pallets commonly used'on continuous type sintering machines are provided with 'side' walls and reenforcing ribs'orequivalent elements, corresponding to the side walls '36 and the ribs 31 of :thepallet here: shown. and described, such ribs and walls defining when thepallet isin aninverted position, pockets or trough-like depressions.

{Referring to Figure 1, it will "be seen thattwhen the'pallets are in invertedxposition, as shown at the feed-end of the machine, at the lower portion of the sprocket wheel l1 there shown, the walls 36 and ribs 31 define upwardly opening pockets or troughs. The fines ff -dropping from the upper portion of return bend 3 at the discharge end of the machine fall into the troughs or pockets of the inverted pallets at the lower portion of this return bend, and are retained loose insuch troughs during travel of the pallets downward along the lower-run |2 of the track to the feed During travel of the pallets upward aboutthe return bend I4 the fines are retained in the troughs between the ribs 31 and walls 36 of the pallets, until'the pallets reach a position at the upper portion of that return bend.

In "that connection, it may be noted that the J fines are usually rather hard and gritty in charactor and are not discharged to-any considerable extent from between the ribs 31 and walls 36 of the pallet until the pallet reaches aposition at the upper portion of the return bend l4.

As previously explained, when the pallets reach the upper portion of the return bend at the feed end of'the machine, the loosefines are discharged downward from the pallets, and, in continuous sintering machines of present, construction, fall downward between the sprocket wheels into the inverted pallets at the lower portions thereof, the eifect being cumulative and the parts at the return bend of the machine, at the feedend thereof, being enclosed in a cloud of the finer particles of the fines, with the objectionableresults above referred to with respect to excessive wear of'the movingparts of the mechanisms at that end of the machine. I have obviated that objection by providing a, fines receiving and collecting chute 45 extending from the upper portion of the return bend M at an inclination downward thereof. The

v chute 45 conveniently is formed of sheet metal, provided at each side with an upwardly extending flange .46, and is supported by-means of a U- .At its upper end chute 45 is of such width as to underlie the pallets I5 for the full'interior width of the pallet frame, as will be clear from Figure'3, and as shown in the latter figur the chute 45 decreases in widthdownward, for a purpose which will be 'explained presently.

A'finesreceiving trough 5 conveniently formed ofgmetal and open at-its top, vsis disposed :transversely otframeill-loelow and slightly inxadvance ofncountershafty25. This trough is'provided, at the upper edge of :eachside thereof, with an out-' wardlyextending flange 52 the front one, of which seats upon a channel bar 53 extending parallel therewithand mounted, by brackets 54, on hold down angle rails 55, secured to-fra-me I5 of the machine in a known. manner and disposed above the:.lower'run l2 of thetrack. A mountingplate 56, welded or otherwisesuitably secured to and extending downward .from the lower portion ,of trough 5|, at the end thereof adjacent the side cfthe:;machine at which the gear wheel ZLand pinion 25 are disposed, is secured to the adjacent holddown rail 55,: conveniently by welding. At itsother end .the trough 5|:is closed by ;a plate 5'! (Figure :5) which is extendeditoward the return bend Hi, this platepassing beneath a channel beam r58;Of..f1a|me |0-and being secured, conveniently'by riveting, Ltoan angle bracket 59 riveted orpotherwise suitably secured to channel beam 58 and projecting downward therefrom. The trough 5| is thus rigidly supported in position extending transversely of frame ill, though it is to be understood that any other suitable or preferred means may be provided for supporting this trough. The chute is open at its lower end and is there provided with :a depending lip 60 (Figures 5 and 6) which extends downward into trough 5| at the inner face of th back wall thereof. Conveniently, the lower portion of chute 45 rests upon the upper flange ofchannel beam 58, as shown in Figure 5, to which it may be secured in any suitable manner or, if desired, chute 45 may be-supported at its lower endon the top of the sidewall of the trough 5|. It will be seen that the slnter fines discharged into the chute 45, which preferably extends above the maindrive shaft l8 of the machine, are collected by this chute and directed thereby. into the trough 5|. Preferably, I provide means whereby the fines delivered to th trough 5| are continuouslydischarged therefrom and conducted to a suitable bin or other collection point.

A screw conveyor 62 of known type is rotatably mounted within trough 5| lengthwise thereof, shaft 63 of this screwconveyor being suitably mounted in appropriate bearing sleeves or blocks secured through the end walls of trough 5|. The screw of conveyor 62 terminates a short distance from the end'of the trough adjacent which the -mounting plate 55 is disposed, this end portion I which may--leadtoa bin or other suitable point of discharge for collecting the sinter fines. A sprocket wheel-66 is secured on th other end of shaft 63 of the screw .conveyor, this sprocket wheel receiving .a chain 67 passing about a sprocket wheel -68 secured on countershaft 25. It will be'seen thatwhen'the sinter-ing machine is in operation, the screw conveyor .62 is continuously driven and serves .to move the sinter fines delivered to trough 5| by the chute 45 lengthwise of the trough to the discharge opening defined by collar 54, .so that the fines are continuously discharged from the trough and are conveyed by the spout 65 to a fines storage bin or other suitable location, from which these .fines may be removed as required for use in the sintering operation or for other purposes.

In mostcases the chute 45 is disposed above the shaft l8 since, as previously noted, the fines are usually gritty and more or less hard in character and are not discharged from the pallets until the latter reach the upper portion of the return bend M at the feed end of the machine. There may be cases, however, in which the fines, du to their character or other causes, would be discharged from the pallets when the latter reach a position a short distance above the horizontal plane of the axis of shaft l8. In such cases, the chute 45 may be disposed below shaft l8 instead of above it, the fines then sliding off of the ribs and the walls of the pallets into the chute, to which they are delivered with a minimum drop or fall, reducing to a minimum the fine particles of fines which may tend to be suspended in the air. Briefly, the chut 45 may be disposed either above or below the shaft l 8, depending upon conditions, and serves in either case to receive the fines discharged from the pallets as the latter move about the return bend at the feed end of the machine, and to direct these fines to the trough El and associated screw conveyor. The particular construction of the chute 45 is not of the essence of my invention, in its broader aspects, nor is the particular arrangement of the trough and the screw for conveying the collected fines to the bin or other suitable point of discharge. My invention comprehends, within its broader aspects, any suitable construction of chute or analogous means for collecting the fines, and any suitable means for conveying the collected fines to an appropriate point or location. It will be understood that changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope thereof, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a sintering machine, an endless track hav ing an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end return bend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, means for moving the pallets about said feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted transversely of said machine and sprocket wheels secured on said shaft, a driven countershait disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and parallel with and having driving connection to said drive shaft, conveyor means driven by said countershaft, and a fines receiving chute mounted at said feed end return bend inclined downwardly and inwardly of said machine extending between said sprocket wheels and disposed between the upper and the lower portions of said feed end return bend with its upper end in proximity to the bottoms of pallets passing thereabout for receiving loose sinter fines discharged from the latter pallets, said chute delivering the fines to said conveyor means.

2. In a sintering machine, an endless track having an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end return bend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, means for moving the pallets about said feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted transversely of said machine and sprocket wheels secured on said shaft, a driven countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and parallel with and having'driving connection to said drive shaft, conveyor means driven by said countershaft disposed transversely of said machine and inwardly thereof beyond said sprocket wheels and discharging laterally of said machine, and a fines receiving chute inclined downwardly and inwardly of said machine extending between said sprocket wheels and disposed between the upper and the lower portions of said feed end return bend with its upper end in proximity to the bottoms of pallets passing thereabout for receiving loose sinter fines discharged from the latter pallets, said chute delivering the fines to said conveyor means.

3. In a sintering machine, an endless track having an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end return bend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, means for moving the pallets about said feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted transversely of said machine and sprocket wheels secured on said shaft, a driven countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and parallel with and having driving connection to said drive shaft, a fines receiving'trough parallel with said countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and having a discharge outlet, conveyor means operating in said trough driven from said countershaft for moving the fines to said outlet, and a fines receiving chute inclined downwardly and inwardly of said machine extending between said sprocket wheels and disposed between the upper and the lower portions of said feed end return bend with its upper end in proximity to the bottoms of pallets passing thereabout for receiving loose sinter fines discharged from the latter pallets, said chute delivering the fines to said trough.

4. In a sintering machine, an endless track having an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end return bend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, means for moving the pallets about sa d feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted transversely of said machine and sprocket wheels secured on said shaft, a driven countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and parallel with and havin driving connection to said drive shaft, 9. fines re ceiving trough parallel with said countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and having a discharge outlet at one side of said machine, conveyor means operating in said trough driven from said countershaft for moving the fines to said outlet, and a fines receiving chute inclined downwardly and inwardly of said machine extending between said sprocket wheels and disposed between the upper and the lower portions of said feed end return bend with its upper end in proximity to the bottoms of pallets passing thereabc-ut for receiving loosesinter fines discharged from the latter pallets, said chute delivering the fines to said trough.

5. In a sintering machine, an endless track having an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end return bend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, means for movingthe pallets about said feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted transversely of said machine and sprocket wheels secured on said shaft, a driven countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and parallel with and having driving connection to said drive shaft, a fines receiving trough parallel with said countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and having a discharge outlet at one side of said machine, conveyor means operating in said trough for moving the fines to said outlet, said conveyor means having a drive shaft parallel with and driven by said countershaft, and a fines receiving chute inclined downwardly and inwardly of said machine extending between said sprocket wheels and disposed between the upper and the lower portions of said feed end return bend with its upper end in proximity to the bottoms of pallets passing thereabout for receiving loose sinter fines discharged from the latter pallets, said chute delivering the fines to said trough.

6. In a sintering machine, an endless track having an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end returnbend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, means for moving the pallets about said feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted transversely of said machine and sprocket wheels secured on said shaft, a driven countershaft disposed inwardly of said'machine 7 beyond said sprocket wheels and parallel with and having driving connection to said drive shaft, 9. fines receiving trough parallel with said countershaft disposed inwardly of said machine beyond said sprocket wheels and having a discharge outlet at one side of said machine, a conveyor screw operating in said trough and driven by said countershaft for moving the fines to said outlet, and a fines receiving chute inclined downwardly and inwardly of said machine extending between said sprocket wheels and disposed between the upper and the lower portions of said feed end return bend with its upper end in proximity to the bottoms of pallets passing thereabout for receiving loose sinter fines discharged from the latter pallets, said chute delivering the fines to said trough.

7. In a sintering machine,

having an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end an endless track return bend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, the palletts adjacent the lower end of the discharge end return bend being inverted and underlying the pallets adjacent the upper end of the latter bend and disposed'to receive therefrom loose sinter fines liberated incident to discharge of the sinter, said pallets comprising elements defining upwardly opening pockets when the pallets are in inverted position effective for receiving and retaining the loose sinter fines, means for moving the pallets about said feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run, and means at the feed end return bend between the upper and lower ortions thereof extending into prox imity to the bottoms of pallets travelling thereabout and disposed to receive loose sinter fines discharged by gravity fromthe pockets of such pallets.

8. In a sinter machine, an endless track having an upper run and a lower run connected by a discharge end return bend and a feed end return bend, a train of pallets travelling on said track, the pallets adjacent the lower end of the discharge end return bend being inverted and underlying the pallets adjacent the upper end of the latter bend and disposed to receive therefrom loose sinter fines liberated incident to discharge of the sinter, said pallets comprising elements defining upwardly opening pockets when the pallets are in inverted position effective for receiving and retaining the loose sinter fines, means ior moving the allets about said feed end return bend from said lower run to said upper run, and a chute between the upper-and lower portions of said feed end return bend inclined downward and inward of said machine lengthwise thereof extending into proximity to the bottoms of pallets travelling about said last mentioned bend and disposed to receive loose sinter fines discharged by gravity from the pockets of such pallets. v

EDWARD W. SHALLOCK. 

